Saturday, December 26, 2009

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I LOVE the holidays! Most of all, I love being able to spend a few (generally uninterrupted) days with family! We were very fortunate to have been able to spend the holidays with most of our family (and extended family)

For Ben and I, this was an exciting Christmas of firsts! For the first time, we got our own Christmas Tree, and puts lights on our own house. We also got to spend Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with one another.

We both have very strong bonds with our families, and couldn't bear to break traditions. But as we've learned, marriage is about compromise, and making a few new traditions of your own. This year we headed North from San Diego on the 20th, and made our stop in Elk Grove. We were able to visit with friends and family, before heading farther North to Ben's hometown of Yreka!

I spent my first Christmas Eve in Yreka with Ben's parents and mom's side of the family, The Conroys! Although I was sad about missing my first Zehnder Christmas ( I heard our new game was excellent), I had a fantastic time in Yreka. We played a huge game of BUNKO, and did a very fun White Elephant gift exchange. It was great to get to know everyone a little better, and meet those family members who weren't at the wedding.

Christmas Eve was great, but didn't come to a close until pretty late. So getting up at 5:30am on Christmas morning to drive back to Elk Grove, wasn't exactly easy. We loaded up and made it on the road by 6am, and were able to see a beautiful sunrise surrounding Mount Shasta. The drive south, was not necessarily fun, but the scenery and lack of cars on the road, made it a lot more enjoyable.

We made it back to Elk Grove in record time, and made it to Grandma & Grandpa's for the start of present opening! We had an extraordinary Christmas this year! Everyone was able to make it, and we got/gave some awesome gifts!

After most of the day at the grandparents, we went back to my parents to have our Christmas (normally done early Christmas morning). The presents just kept coming! (Brooklyn & Lola even got Snuggies) We went a little overboard this year, again, after saying we were going to cut back. The best part though?......everyone was there! Mom & Dad, Krista & James, Lauren & Chris, and Ben & I!

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About Me

On August 1, 2009 I started my life as Mrs. Gravenkamp. What followed was a whirlwind of wedding planning, honeymooning, pregnancy, & the birth of our amazing little boy Finn on August 20, 2010. Join me in my adventures of work, love & being a mommy!